They were both, frankly, a mess. Sure, they'd taken the time to clean their wounds a bit, but really, Thornclaw and Twistedshine had kicked the everloving shit out of each other. Good introduction, that. But somewhere in the midst of insults and swollen-tongued discussion, they'd come to a somewhat respectful accord. And so, now that their bleeding had mostly stopped, Thornclaw led Twistedshine into the abandoned section of the city BloodClan called its home.<p>He figured he'd show her the borders and good spots later. Both of them were sore and injured and tired, and though Thornclaw was the type to push himself until collapse, he didn't have to today.<p>The muscular tom raised his tail as they entered the lower level of the pet store. "Welcome to headquarters, darling," he said in a rumble, his voice still a bit thick but much clearer now.

After the meeting with Bonechill, Thornclaw had taken his new friend Marbles on a tour. He'd first shown the other cat around the apartment where they lived, and then the pet store where they practiced and spent their time. That done, it was time for Marbles to dig his grave. It was a rite of passage for all BloodClan cats - and full warrior or not, their new ambastard was a BloodClan cat now.<p>Out into the back lot they went, where graves that others had dug were scattered around the property. For a short moment Thornclaw peered around, trying to pick a spot where the dirt might be soft. The kittypet's lack of claws was going to make this more difficult. Finally he spotted it - a place where the dirt looked a little loose, near the fence.<p>Tail held high, he'd try to start leading Marbles to the spot. "Awright. You get to dig a grave, buddy. I can help a little, but this is your project."

Thornclaw rose from his nest with a groan and gave his pelt a shake. Once he was on his paws, he stretched luxuriously, arching his spine and taking a couple of steps. With his muscles warmed, the tabby tom glanced around the room for his new charge. "Ay, Marbles! Up an at 'em, kitty cat! We're goin' on a patrol!" he called. Once he was sure Marbles had heard, he gave his broad head a shake and headed out into the main room.<p>There he paused, tail flicking as he looked around the room. Perhaps he should collect another cat to go on patrol with him today. Usually Thornclaw went alone - he didn't mind the silence of his own company - but today would be Marbles first outing. He was going to put the weird former-kittypet to the test, and having someone else at paw if something went wrong might be wise.<p>With a huff, he went out into the main room to wait for Marbles and see who might be good to take along on the patrol.

Thornclaw was, surprisingly, on task.<p>Sure, the cream tabby tom's mind was wandering, but that was because it had time to. Bonechill had appointed him councilor, and it still made his mind spin a bit. Sure, the boy had ambitions, but he hadn't expected to reach any of them so soon. He knew he was young. It was nice, though. He wasn't about to complain, even if with advancement came new duties. Despite being a total bro, he'd never been one to shirk his work. Just wasn't his style.<p>And the kind of dirty work he was getting into suited him just fine.<p>Tail held high, he began skirting into less abandoned sections of the city. He had more exploring to do in the abandoned section, but he also wanted to get a feel for more populous bits. While Thornclaw wouldn't say, at this point, that he was afraid of two-legs, they made him distinctly uncomfortable. Especially what those two-leg apprentices had done to Marbles. It was just weird, and cruel, and it made his spine bristle a bit. Not. Cool.<p>He turned a corner, the muscular tom winding his way down an alley. As he moved away from the walking feet on the sidewalk, his thoughts began to drift once more. For a moment, he tried to pull them back, wrestling uncomfortably with the realities of this new life. And, finally, as he worked to open up a silver boulder for something smelly inside, he let them free. <p>It was funny. Thornclaw knew with no uncertainty he was a murderer now. He had dreams - and occasional nightmares - of the night his father had died. No, not died - been killed. The night he had killed his father. It wasn't something he could shy away from, not now. It had happened, and damn it, the bastard had deserved it. After what he said, he'd been asking to die.<p>What was really funny was that he'd died to his own tricks. The tools he'd equipped Thornclaw with during his apprenticeship had been turned against him, and he had died choking on his own blood. And Thornclaw? He hadn't felt a thing.<p>It raised... Uncomfortable questions, though. Thornclaw's faith in StarClan had never been strong. He hadn't had the sort of sweet, calm belief that his mother had. Nor did he really have the dark crimson devotion to the Dark Forest, like his father, Lakestrike. After seeing what StarClan allowed - what had happened to his mother - he couldn't believe StarClan was that all knowing force of good that some claimed they were. If they existed, they were just dead cats, wandering the stars.<p>That didn't seem so wise to him, really. Sure, Thornclaw hoped - somewhere deep in that blackening little heart of his - that his mother was up there. Maybe she was finally happy, now that she was free from Lakestrike and his misery. He also clung to the belief that, if there was even a shred of decency in those stars, Lakestrike was not there. He belonged in the dark place.<p>And so did Thornclaw. Whiskers pinned, he leaped up to dig through the silver boulder and its trash, still contemplative. Even if StarClan existed - and he supposed they probably did - they weren't for him. Not anymore. His destiny wasn't in the stars. Instead, he had a life to live here - shit to get done. And when it was over, he supposed, he'd go to the Dark Forest with his father. Like father, like son. One killer begets another.<p>Deep in the silver boulder, the tom found what he was looking for. Powerful legs carried him out, and he landed smoothly on the pavement of the alley, cheeseburger held tightly in his jaws. Rather than contemplative, he seemed suddenly sure, his body language steady. He'd come to a decision.<p>StarClan could go fuck themselves. To the Dark Forest with the afterlife. What mattered was here and now.

</div> <div class="thornlyrics">Turn away from all that I know</div> <div class="thornlyr2">Burning this bridge behind me</div></div></center>[/dohtml]

<div class="thorncont"> <div class="thornimg"></div> <div class="thorncredit1">akemi</div><a href="http://warriorcatsarpg.com/index.php?showtopic=1849&view=findpost&p=11693"><div class="thornname">Thornclaw</div></a> <div class="thorninfo">BloodClan - Warrior - 13 Moons</div><div class="thorntext">After knocking over the silver boulder and stealing copious amounts of what he was pretty sure was called bread, Thornclaw had made his way through the city streets. Once soft paw-pads were already hardening, adjusting to a new life of hitting the pavement. And behind him trailed the... Tom that wasn't a tom. His new pet, which, being a good pet owner, he had already fed. It was only polite.<p>He hadn't shared his cheeseburger, but who shared those?<p>The muscular young tom led Marbles through the petstore and apartments, his walk more of a jaunty swagger. He'd saved a life, and maybe it could be useful. Maybe in some small way, this would offset all the bad. Unlikely, but y'know. A boy has to try.<p>Up they went, stopping just inside the Attic. "Yo, Bonechill! What's up, boss? I got somethin' for ya!" called the tom, tail curling over his back.</div> <div class="thornlyrics">Turn away from all that I know</div> <div class="thornlyr2">Burning this bridge behind me</div></div></center>[/dohtml]

((This is primarily to bring in Marbles (Marvel) to see Bonechill, I don't mind if others join, just don't want it to get TOO crowded, so only characters that'd have good reason to be there, please! <3))